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Family life

In 1970, Hager married Linda Carruth Davis, the daughter of a Methodistevangelist. Together they had three sons. David and Linda Hager's marriage ended by divorce in 2002. In November 2002 Linda, herself a religious and political conservative, was remarried to James Davis, a United Methodist minister.

In 2003 Hager married Lexington physician Kathleen Martin; in 2007, Martin filed for divorce from Hager.

Controversy over FDA advisory committee appointment

Hager's appointment became more divisive when on May 6, 2004, the FDA rejected the December 16, 2003 Advisory Committee 23 to 4 vote to drop the prescription-only status of emergency contraception, and refused to approve the sale of Plan B over the counter.

First, The Nation, and then The Washington Post and Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Hager spoke at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, about his role in persuading the FDA to keep Plan B a prescription-only drug. Hager said, "I was asked to write a minority opinion that was sent to the commissioner of the FDA. For only the second time in five decades, the FDA did not abide by its advisory committee opinion, and the measure was rejected."

Further concerns with his candidacy arose with his beliefs and medical assertions penned in the book "Stress and The Woman's Body", co-written with his ex-wife Linda Carruth-Davis. In the book, his writings emphasized the "restorative power of Jesus Christ in one's life" and recommended specific Scripture readings and prayers for such ailments as headaches and premenstrual syndrome.